Be Mature in Christ
Scripture:
Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)
14 Then we will no
longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there
by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their
deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we
will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,
that is, Christ.
Devotion:
Paul in today’s scripture is laying
out what our life will be like when we are finally mature in the Lord. As it is
today Christians are too often blown about by every new wind of doctrine, every
new thought about Christ. We often fight and wound our brothers and sisters in
the Lord by being immature children playing at things that the mature in the
Lord know enough to avoid. Culture tells us what we are to believe and do
and we follow along not wanting to seem different or be called out as unloving
or backwards in our thinking.
The world, the flesh, and the devil,
seek to put us back into the chains that Jesus Christ broke off of us. This
unholy trinity seeks to undermine faith and pervert our love for each other
that they may claim victory over Jesus and his redemptive work. We must be
careful to be clothed in the armor of God which God has prepared for each
soldier in his army to wear. And so clothed, we must stand against the evil days
ahead. Make no mistake about this. If you stand for the truth of God’s word and
live according to that standard, you will become an enemy to the world.
We must always speak God’s truth to
combat the enemies lies. We, however, must speak God’s truth in love. Our
neighbors should hear and see God’s love in our words and actions. We must
always be growing to be more like Christ so when we stand before his throne, we
will hear Christ proclaim, “well done my good and faithful servant.” That is
the goal of the Christian life. We are to seek to be loyal servants of the one
true King. We are to please him in everything we do and say.
Let us, therefore, train our hearts,
minds, and souls, to be sensitive to the Lord’s leading in our lives. Let us
seek to listen only to the call of the one true Shepherd of our souls ignoring
the calls of the world system that seeks to drag us down into sin. Help us grow
into maturity in Christ that we may be examples of Christ’s love in and for the
world. Let us pray for this maturity.
Prayer:
Lord God almighty, save us from the
winds that would blow us about. Keep our eyes and ears focused on you and your
leading in our lives. Strengthen us to be witnesses of Christ’s love in the
world. Let us shine like lights in the darkness. Let the light of Christ within
us drive the forces of evil into retreat. Glorify yourself O God in our lives.
May we be your faithful servants. Amen.
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